Creating community for fans of ethical fashion

The team behind the Canadian online style destination The Garment are part personal stylists, part champions of socially conscious shopping.

Through a monthly membership program, the website’s team offers fashion advice, purchasing tips and a curated selection of pieces from “responsible brands” that meet their “ethical criteria.”

We caught up with Morgan Hamel, founder and CEO of the company, to learn more.

Q For those who aren’t familiar, what is The Garment?

A The Garment is a company that is changing the face of fashion by connecting people and responsible brands. We search the world to find responsible brands that meet our ethical criteria, The Garment Standard, and then connect our community to the garments we love.

Q How did it all come about?

A The Garment began when my journey through pregnancy and postpartum wardrobe sorting revealed that I had more clothes than I could ever need or want. I realized that my constant shopping wasn’t filling the need for connection and recognition that I wanted to achieve by buying clothes, and the brands I was buying weren’t reflective of the value and commitment to sustainability that was so important in other areas of my life. I started sourcing brands I loved, and my friends started buying those garments, and then I identified a gap between the makers making the items and the people in the world who wanted them but couldn’t find them.

Q Who is the target customer? A We bring together people who want their closets to align with the ethical folks they are.

Q What makes it unique from other fashion destinations?

A The Garment is unique in that we are less about selling clothes and more about community.

Q How are the makers/products selected?

A Garments are assessed against The Garment Standard, which is a comprehensive, codified, holistic ethical standard that can be reasonably applied to a fashion business to establish a baseline of responsible and sustainable practices. What’s unique about it ... is that we start with whether the product is good quality and cute. If it doesn’t pass that, we go no further.

Q And what about the membership aspect of The Garment?

A First, we help our collective members get clarity on their true style. Next we are able to support them in finding contentment with what they have, making their investments more meaningful and impactful. Lastly, we equip members with the knowledge they need to assess brands on their own, so that they are in a position to buy clothes that are better for people and the world.

Q What is the price?

A Membership in The Garment Collective is US$60 per year

Q Where can people learn more? A Thegarment.ca.